Michigan D.C. Jesse Minter's defense was as advertised in week one

The Michigan defense did its part and more in helping lead the Wolverines to a 51-7 drubbing of Colorado State in the opener, notching 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. The defensive line came in waves, and sophomore linebacker Junior Colson stepped up with a great game in the win.

There were many question marks when Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo left for the NFL, especially about the pass rush. For one week against an overmatched opponent, they were answered.

“I think it’s just a mentality that we want to have — that everybody gets a chance and everybody eats,” Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter said on the Inside Michigan radio show Monday night. “And a huge thing for us is when one person makes a play, we all make a play.

“I’ve said this before — I’d love at the end of the year for us to maybe have a guy that can have 12 or 13 sacks, but right now we want to spread it around. We want to bring different guys. I think we got all three levels of the defense involved in pressure, and it keeps offense is off-balance.”

If they keep buying in, Minter noted, they’re going to continue to have a lot of success.

That was the case against the Rams. It often appeared to be a race to see who could get the sack or the TFLs first, and as Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday, there were always hats around the ball.

“Pretty much what I loved was just how many winged helmets were showing up in the picture frame of every clip,” Harbaugh said. “Just great pursuit … great runs to the football.”

Several weeks until big tests emerge for the Michigan defense

But how good will the Michigan defense be against the better teams on the schedule? It’s going to be a few weeks yet before the Wolverines play an offense with a pulse (Maryland), and there will be some question marks until then.

Still, Minter and his staff understand they have great depth and many ways in which to use it.

“I think our identity, one of our traits, is that we are flexible,” the Michigan D.C. said. “I think we have a versatile package. We have a lot of different pieces. We were counting six different edge pieces that bring something a little bit different to the table — different matchups with different types of O-linemen that can do different things — a bunch of different interior guys.

“In camp, I think we probably had used our linebackers a little bit more. We didn’t do it quite as much in that first game, but there’s just a lot of versatility, a lot of speed. I think we have the ability to match up with a lot of different styles.”

That remains to be seen. The run defense, while mostly effective, wasn’t overwhelming against the Rams. It would have been interesting to see how Michigan adjusted if CSU head coach Jay Norvell stuck with it a bit more — it’s simply not their identity.

Maryland isn’t great, but the Terps have some athletes on offense. We’ll know more then what this group is made of. Michigan senior Mazi Smith and Co. should dominate with their strength and experience up front, and there’s great depth.

“I think it starts with those guys,” Minter said. “Playing good defense starts with your D-line, especially the interior guys. Mazi is our leader, and he sort of brought along the rest of that room with him, along with Coach [Mike] Elston. And for those guys to one), have the amount of guys we have that we can play with .. it keeps everybody fresh. You know you’re not counting on a 300-plus pound guy to play 50 snaps in a game.

“Just credit to those guys, credit to -strength] Coach [Ben] Herb[ert] for getting them ready to play. I just look forward to continuing to grow more guys in that room.”

Secondary held up well

But last Saturday was more about the Michigan secondary than anything. Minter was well prepared, and he had his guys set and ready. There were no busted coverages, and there were great disguises, too, that led to coverage sacks.

Even some of the Rams’ better plays involved some good fortune.

“I thought we covered them. I thought we were sticky,” Minter said. “We didn’t give up really any explosive plays. There was one seam route that we almost got our hands on the ball that they completed, and then there was a crossing route. [Michigan linebacker] Mike Barrett tipped it. If he was an inch taller, he might have picked it.

“Then there was a crossing route or two that we just sort of lost leverage on. But overall, I thought those guys … Coach [Steve] Clinkscale and Coach Jay [Harbaugh] do a really good job with those guys and having them prepared, knowing what concepts are coming.”

Again — there are still bigger tests to come. But the Michigan defense got off to a great start in week one, plenty to like for an opener.